I have recently been looking into a matter of supposed Edgbaston Old Church (St. Barts) 'history'.... but, in searching through various - albeit restricted - Victorian newspaper archives, I'm now wondering whether the incident concerned may be pure 'Folklore', rather than anything more substantial?
In short, I was attempting to find some records pertaining to the alleged suicide of a gentleman named Thomas Jackson, who is said to have ended his life 'in' the church itself - through cutting his throat with a razor - at some point in the 1840's!?
Despite having seen references to this incident in a number of places over the decades - including tracts written by local historians - I simply cannot unearth any actual contemporary, 'historical' records concerning the matter? Well-known local historian, Chris Upton, wrote a piece for a local newspaper in the early 90's which mentions the matter (seemingly as an aspect of bona-fide history). Another piece, from a short-lived periodical called 'Midland Murders, Mysteries and Legends' (released in 1995) also mentions the matter.... though pretty much all references that I've seem contain exactly the same details, so, I guess, originate with the same references?
The only historical piece that I have managed to find (so far) that even touches on the subject is an article from a local newspaper for the mid-1800's; a ridiculously OTT 'ghost story' that basically sounds 'cheesier' than a wheel of Stilton! Laugh! Despite the fact that the suicide itself supposedly took place at some point in the 1840's, the piece - only around a decade after the supposed tragedy - seems to already treat the topic as an aspect of distant history / folklore at very best.... which perhaps suggests that the suggested date is pure fantasy, of behalf of some storyteller or other?
I have recently contacted the church itself about the matter and (rather surprisingly, I must add) received a reply on the topic. Unfortunately, they have no record of the supposed event, though they have a record of the aforementioned piece, written by Chris Upton, in their files.......